henderson



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. HENDERSON.

GOLLAPSIBLE BOAT g INVENM Patente May 14, 1889.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

0 S R E D N E H G OOLLAPSIBLE BOAT.

Patented May 14, 1889.

INVENTOR N. PETERS. PnuwLilhu n m-r. Wnhinglun, nc.

(No Model.) 0. HENDERSON. a Sheets-Sheet s.

GOLLAPSIBLE, BOAT.

No. 403,470. Patented May 14, 1889.

\NVENTD K i l: Y B 5515:

4% s It N FETERS, Phulo-Llllagnphcn Washington D. cv

UNiTEn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES HENDERSON, OF GLASGOlV, SCOTLAND.

COLLAPSIBLE BOAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 403,470, dated May 14, 1889.

Application filed October 1, 1888. Serial No. 286,825. (No model.) Patented in England August 12, 1887, ITO-11,053; in Germany July 10,1888; in France July 18, 1888, No. 191,805, and in Italy July 16, 1888,110. 216.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES HENDERSON, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, and residing at Glasgow, Scotland, have invented certain Improvements in Collapsible Boats, (for which I have obtained Letters Patent in Great Britain No. 11,053, dated August 12, 1887 France No. 191,805, July 13, 1888; Italy No. 216, dated July 16, 1888, and Germany dated July 10, 1888,) of which the following is a specification.

My invention comprises a new or improved construction or arrangement and combination of the parts of collapsible boats, which can be stowed over each other horizontally in great numbers under the present davits and launching appliances on the decks of ships or vessels without interfering with the proper working of the vessel or taking up more deck area than has heretofore been required in the ordinary mode of stowing ships boats.

Figures 1 and 2 are respectivelya sectionalelevation and plan of my collapsible boatframe as shown in its erected position; and Figs. 3 and 4 are corresponding views to Figs. 1 and 2, showing the frame in its partiallycollapsed position, while Fig. 5 is a sectional end view corresponding to Fig. 1, with the frame in its erected position. Figs. 6 and 7 show sectional elevations of the central part of the frame, the former in its erected posi tion and the latter in a partially-collapsible position, corresponding to Fig. 3, but both to a larger scale to show the details of construction and motion of the parts more clearly. Fig. 8 is a transverse section through the keel c and keelson C, showing the slide arrangement for attaching and oscillating the ribs A thereto, as shown in the other figures. Fig. 9 shows an alternative mode of sliding the ribs A on the keelson O with a V-slide, c, and slide-blocks c; and Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation of the fittings connected with the bow or stern post D for swiveling it down over the keelson 0 below and looking it to the gunwale-frame B above when raised. Fig. 11 shows a slightly-different equivalent modification of the fittings connected with the raising and lowering mechanism of the bow and stern posts D D from that shown in Fig. 10.

Figs. 12 and 13 show a vertical end and side section, respectively, of a part of the keel c and keelson 0, showing a different or alternative. equivalent mode and means from that shown in all the other figures for sliding and folding down the main ribs A and vertical stays (Z horizontally over the keelson (J; and Fig. 14. shows a corresponding longitudinal section with the frames and parts as partially folded down.

According to one arrangement or construction of the parts of my collapsible boat with flexible canvas outer shell or covering, 2, as shown in these drawings, the ribs A may be constructed of iron or steel or of wood, but preferably of wood and metal combined, and they are secured at each of their upper extremities to the gunwales B B by means of a joint, A, which admits of the ribs A being slewed round and down in a fore-and-aft direction to a nearly horizontal position, parallel, or nearly so, to the gunwales B B and the keel c, as shown particularly in Figs. 8, 1, and 7.

The bottom central part-s of the ribs A are made in the form of journals and jointed to journal-bearings A secured to each other by sliding bars 0 0 mounted and fastened to slide 011 the T-shaped keelson O by slides 0 Fig. 8, but so arranged that they can be moved in sets with their bushes, and embracing slides A c in a fore-and-aft direction without being detached from the slide-keelson O, as will hereinafter be described.

There are two sets of ribs, each rib A A formed with a journal to swivel in a sliding block, A each block A being secured to the keelson C by a counter-checked or a dovetail edge slide, 0 or c" as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, respectively. One set of slide-bars, O, 0011- nects the set of ribs A and their sliding blocks A and another set of slide-bars, O connects the set of ribs A and their sliding blocks A The center swiveling part of each rib is cylindrical as a journal and has a collar or shoulder part, A on each side of the bearing A for preventing lateral or athwart-ship motion. The ribsAA' are so arranged that one half or nearly one half of their number, A, travel along the keelson O with their slidebars 0 in a forward direction, while the other half or set of ribs,A,, with their slide-bars G are made 'to' travel in the after direction, and vice versa, both toward each other in the center, as shown particularly in Figs. 6 and 7, in their drawn-up and sliding-out and collapsible positions, respectively. Each ribA or A might be made to move separately, or two or more may be connected together by means of the plates C 0 or it might be rods or other device. Preferably I propose to csnnect together all the ribs A designed to move in the same direction to one set of sliding plates 0, and the other set, A, to the slide-plates 0 This doesnot apply to any ribs which might be fitted near to the stem andt-he stern post, as these would preferably be made to fold or be detached independently when used. The adjacent slide-blocks A of these two sets of slide-bars O and C to which the fore-and-aft groups of ribs A A are jointed 011 overlapping lugs on them, are fitted. with lockingcatches O, which, when the ribs are drawn up to the vertical position shown in Figs. 1 and 6, take onto catch-blocks 0 secured near the center of the keelson O, and secure the whole two sets of ribs'A A in their'vertical position, these locking catches 0 being lifted out when theribs A A are to be swiveled' down and the boat to be collapsed, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 7. The gunwales B B are constructed ofmetal and wood combined, preferably the latter, with a joint between them, the lower part, B, being preferably formed in one piece or frame from stem to stern post, while the upper bow and stern part, B may be jointed or detached at B, somedistance from the bow and stern, where it is secured at B to stem and stern post D, preferably.

I propose to make the lower metal part continuous, securely jointed at A to top of each rib A A, as already described. The keelson O is constructed of metal, wood, or wood and metal combined, securely bolted to the external keel, c. The upper edge or edges of the keelson G will be formed with a rectangular or angular dovetail slide, as indicated at c in Figs. 8 and 9, whereby the rib A may be securely attached thereto by the slide-bushes A and connecting slide-bars 0 0 so as to tion close over the keelson C, as described.

The stem and stern posts D D, which are both alike, are secured to the keel and keelson c O by means of a strong hinge-joint at D which permits of their being folded inward fore and aft to an approximately horizontal position over the keelson While folding down the ribs A, as seen particularly in Figs. 3 and 4:.

The thwarts or seats a are attached to the ribs A at their ends by means of swivel-spindles at a. The bearings for these are preferably formed solid with the ribs A, or bolted or otherwise secured thereto, and so arranged that the thwarts a always maintain a hori- Zontal position, sliding under a center beam,

,ticularly in- Figs. 1 and 6.

dicated by dotted lines in 'the figures. gcovering canvas or skin will be secured under the keelson O by an outer keel, c, as seen a in Figs. 5 and 8, or by an outer bar or false I: keel, c, as shown in Fig. 9, and all round the 1 outside of the gunwale between the joints of these two parts B B, or by outer protecting laths or otherwise, and such other portions of the structure as will not interfere with the I collapsing action of the frames and parts. A

I), while the ribs A are folded or slewed round in the act of collapsing the boat. A substantial longitudinal center stringer or girder, b, is run fore and aft above or below the line of thwarts Ct, preferably'above, as shown, and to which they are securely attached by grooved slides and plates 12, so as to slide under the beam b, with the ribs A A in opposite directions, and all collapse or fold down horizontally over the keelson C. The ends of this stringer b are connected at b by wire-rope raising braces or stays 19 or it might be chain or 1 other equivalent, which have their other ends secured to locking catch-levers b at B to the gunwale B at the top of the bow and stern posts D D, as seen particularly in Figs. 1 and 10, and these braces b will rise and fall with the stringer b and bow and stern posts D D. I joint or connect the stringer b b, or rather the thwarts a below it at d, to the bottom of the ribs A on each side of the slideblocks A and slide-bars O C by two central 1 I vertical stays, d d, formed by rods or plates. To permit of the oscillating movement of the ribs A A in relation to the keelson 0, these stays at (1 require to be jointed at their connection with the thwart-s a, or it might be the stringer b b above at d, but may be rigidly secured at their bottom ends at d to the ribs A A. To further add to the rigidity of, the structure of the boat when in expanded form and to draw the ribs A A to their vertical position, I attach from E to each hook C of the sliding bars 0 O a wire-rope angled foreand-aft brace or stay, E E the ends E of these stays being attached to the bow and stern posts D D, near their upper part, so

that when these posts D D are raised they pull the bars 0' C and slide-blocks A inward toward each other to raise all the ribs A A" to their vertical position, as seen par- The stem-post D draws the stern sliding bar 0 and its ribs inward, while the stern-post D draws the forward sliding bar, 0 and its frames in- ,ward until the locking-catches C 0 take ,on the locking-blocks C 0 so'that these fwith the braces E E and b b draw the whole frame up and retain. it in a rigid and erect position.

swivel as well as slide in a fore-and-aft direc For the covering or skin .2 of theboat'l use one or more plies of prepared canvas or other suitable flexible water-proof material, as in- The certain amount of shear or rise fore and aft at the gunwale B B may be obtained by varying the depth of the gunwale at the bow and stern; but where considerable shear is re-' quired I prefer to connect or joint an auxiliary angular or V part, B of the upper gunwale, B fore and aft over the main horizontal gunwale B at the bow and stern, and which will be hinged to the upper gunwale, B, at the extremities B and secured at the apex B of the bow and stern to give the desired height of shear to the stem and stern posts D D, and to which the locking-lever b is secured. In this case the covering or skin .2 will be secured at stem and stern to this upper or auxiliary gunwale, B and may or may not be attached to the main gunwale B at these fore-and-aft parts, and would preferably be attached to the under side of the keelson C, protected by an outer keel, c, or lath or false keel c below the canvas. In place of having vertical hinged ribs A Anear the bow and stern, an arrangement of angled flexible or elastic stays or frames, 6, is used, having the lower ends, 6, attached to the bow and stern end of the keelson C and having their upper ends, 6 attached to the under side of the gunwale B near the upper end of the first transverse ribs A A, these stays 6 being preferably made of rope or wire rope covered with wooden balls to prevent the chafing of the covering at the bow and stern quarter while maintaining its V shape at these parts, and all so that they can be folded horizontally when the boat is collapsed. Longitudinal floors orbottom foot-boards, f, may be secured loosely to lateral or transverse projections or boards f over the lower part of the ribs A and keelson C, as indicated in Fig. 5,in such a manner as to allow the free swiveling of the ribs A, all as described, under these floors ff to the horizontal position.

Two, three, or more of these collapsible boat-s may be housed horizontally over each other on the ships decks or housing-frames, or some little distance off the deck under the usual hoisting and lowering davits, each boat when folded down or collapsed only occupying a few inches in height, as shown in Fig. The covering or skin .2 will collapse loosely all round the sides of the gunwale and frames, and each boat can be hoisted by the davits and shackles D or other equivalent secured to the upper ends of the stem and stern posts D D, and which in being raised by the tackle would draw the lower blocks, A and slidebars C C by the braces E E into their locked position and the stringer b by the braces b to its raised position, and by this means the two sets of ribs A A and the gunwales B B would be raised to their vertical position. This raising of the upper ends of the stem and stern posts D D would also raise the fore and aft gunwale parts 13 13 so that they would be secured in their upright position by the locking-levers b b on the catch b on the gunwales in the upper ends of the posts D D, which could be further locked, when the hoisting-chains were freed, by turning the shackle D to the position shown in Fig. 10, which would cause a looking hook, (1 on the inner end of the shackle D to take onto a corresponding hook on the lockingdeverb and thoroughly secure the fixing of this at the stem and stern post-s D D, thus tightening and securing the whole structure; or any other equivalent securing device at the top of the stem and stern posts D D might be employedsuch as that shown in Fig. 11, 'in which a hoisting-chain is directly attached to the extreme ends B of the gunwales B and brought through under a pulley at D in the upper end of the stem and stern posts, and when a strain is put on this chain it simultaneously draws up the stem and stern posts D D and gunwales B B until two curved or inclined catches, g, on the sides of the upper ends of the posts D D take under and into notched plates g, secured on the under surface of the gunwales, and hold the stem and stern posts .D D in their erect position by the strain or elasticity of the tightened cover or skin drawn up by the gunwale B or they might be further secured by a pin at g passed through the stem and stern posts D D above the gunwales B B The rowlocks R for the oars would, as usual, be mounted to swivel by their stems in the gunwales B B and secured to the gunwales portably by lashings.

Referring to Figs. 12 to 1-1L 011 Sheet 2, in this arrangement of sliding and folding down the main ribs A A the journal part and bushes A of these frames A A (shown in the former figures) are dispensed with and the ribs A made to pass right across the keelson O, with metal plates A on their under side sliding and turning over the keelson O, which in this case is formed with angle-iron sides or edges, 0 under which the ribs A are secured, so as to swivel by kneed rounded ends 0 formed 011 the lower plates, d of the swiveling-stays d, jointed at their upper ends, (1, to the thwarts a. These lower plates, d are secured to the sides of the ribs, Figs. 12 and 13, each rib A being connected to its adj accnt rib over the keelson C by jointing snug-plates 0 secured to them, and joint-connecting rods or plates 0', (equivalent to the side plates, 0 C of the former arrangement,) but which in this case allow the ribs A A to swivel and fold down over the keelson 0 when the boat is collapsed, as indicated in Fig. 14.

I claim as my invention- 1. A collapsible boat having its ribs jointed at their upper ends to the gunwales and fitted at their lower ends to slide and swivel on or over the keelson in a fore-and-aft direction, so that they fold down Vertically to a nearlyhorizontal position close over the keelson, substantially as herein set forth.

2. A collapsible boat having its ribs pivoted to fold down vertically in a fore-and-aft direction with the gunwale and thwarts close over the keelson, substantially as set forth.

3. A collapsible boat having its ribs folding down vertically in a fore-and-aft direction and thwarts pivoted to the ribs to maintain a horizontal position in folding, snbstantion, with stem and stern posts hinged at tially as described. their lower ends, as and for the purposes set 4. In collapsible boats, ribs having their forth. '5 lower parts fitted to slide and swivel on and In testimony whereoflhave signed my name 5 over the keelson in a fore-and-aft direction, a to this specification in the presence of two sublongitudinal center stringer to which the scribing Witn esses.

thwarts are attached, and braces from the CHARLES HENDERSON. ends of the stringer to the stem and stern Witnesses: A posts, respectively, to raise the boat to a ver- JOHN SIME, 1o tical position, substantially as described. \VILLIAM MCKENZIE,

'5. A collapsible boat having ribs pivoted to Both of 96 Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Scotfold down vertically in a fore-and-aft direc- Zcmd. 

